Oz made easy

As anyone who has visited here knows, Oz is a "bloody big place," so time is of the essence when visiting.

And, to be perfectly frank about it, for far too long just getting "Down Under" was the literal and proverbial pain in the butt because there was no direct flying link, and that brought travellers into the loving embrace of U.S. immigration, usually at Honolulu -- a stopover that took tedious hours wading through.

That has all changed.

The distance between Canada and Australia hasn't changed, but what has is both aviation technology and Air Canada's relatively new direct service from Vancouver.

The national carrier often comes in for "stick," as they say down here, some deserved, some not. But this new daily service is a little beauty for travellers, especially those with limited sightseeing time on their hands.

The 15-hour direct flying time is long, but it not only shaves more than three hours off the old routing but the Boeing 777 is a comfortable flying beast. A major advance is that in "cattle class" -- economy -- there is good leg space that comes accompanied by all the other trinkets of modern travel, such as your own in-flight entertainment centre that really does work with a touch of the finger.

The biggest bonus for travellers wanting to hit Bondi Beach, the Great Ocean Road in Victoria or the dreamy Hunter Valley wine district with a full and well-rested head of steam is the flying schedule.

Outward bound departs Vancouver at 23:45 and has you into Sydney at 09:50 two days later. Don't panic. You get back the lost day coming home and there is precious little jet lag as you get to sleep the night away just as if you were in your own bed.

So now you are here. What to do?

For starters, nose around Sydney. While it might appear to be a giant mushroom spreading in all directions, the sights, sounds and tastes of Australia's urban heart is easy to access.

Navigating downtown is relatively painless with the famed "coat hanger," Sydney Harbour Bridge along with the spectacular Sydney Opera House two immediate "compass points."

And what better place to start than the iconic bridge? Get the real bridge experience by walking across its arches. It's an exciting blast to trundle over to the top of the bridge.

If heights bother you, just stroll around and soak up the atmosphere of touristy Darling Harbour, the Opera House, hop a ferry at Circular Quay for a day at Manley Beach with its array of beach-front restaurants, or wander through the botanical park to experience the culinary treat of Harry's Café de Wheels in Woolloomooloo.

Harry's wide variety of meat pies dispensed from a colourful, but now wheeless pie cart, is the best food value you will find in the city.

The famed Bondi Beach, an international magnet for the world's youth and others with an eye for the body beautiful, is a must visit. It's an easy bus ride away and again full of trendy restaurants. A favourite of my mates and me is to start at the Bondi Baths and then enjoy an invigorating coast walk to nearby Bronte. Along the way are simply spectacular vistas of the Tasman Sea and rugged coastline.

The route is undulating, often hot and a hat is recommended. Our mor-ning safari includes a refreshing coffee pause at Bronte and then it's back to the baths for a swim and steam bath. Total distance, three kilometres.

With the exercise done, head upstairs to Iceberg's Dining Room and Bar overlooking the iconic saltwater pool with the beach stretching beyond. It gets its name from the curious habit the swim club has of opening the season in early winter by dumping a tonne of ice in and then taking the plunge -- a sort of Oz lukewarm polar-bear swim.

Don't miss the fish and chips here and a refreshing sip of the amber fluid. As with many restaurants and clubs in Australia, you have to sign in at the front door. Something to do with liquor regulations. Don't ask, just sign in!

But Sydney isn't Australia and the problem most visitors have is how to get the most out of their stay.

If time is limited a couple of suggestions: The Aussies pump out a lot of wonderful wines these days and you can literally get the real taste just a couple of hours easy drive from Sydney in the bucolic Hunter Valley, one of the country's oldest and best known wine-growing regions.

Driving to the Hunter is easy and the route takes you by some of the country's darker history and interesting pubs that are worth a stop. The original road into the valley was hacked out of tough terrain by convicts who had been transported under dreadful conditions from the "old country."

If the sea journey didn't get them carving the road into the Hunter surely must have done for more of them. The convicts actually made the riches of the Hunter possible because they found water, Australia's enduring challenge, in reasonable quantities in Wollombi. So a tip of the glass to them!

The Lower Hunter Valley, with its gentle slopes and the winding Hunter River, ultimately unveiled the true richness of the region that today attracts 2.6 million visitors a year. There are now in excess of 100 vineyards and wineries that throw open their doors and hospitality around the clock.

There is an excellent choice of hotels, motels, chalets, guesthouses, and cabins catering to those who wish to unwind and experience the bucolic delights of the region.

The choice of accommodation can be a bit overwhelming and the best place to start, if you haven't booked ahead, is at the Hunter Valley Wine Country Visitors Information Centre at Pokobiln. This well-organized centre has all the information one needs.

With a roof over your head the fun really begins -- coming to grips with the abundant and varied nectars of the Hunter. Plan your tasting day and head to the vineyards of your choice and always, repeat always, bring a picnic.

The other great journey within easy reach that encapsulates a lot of Australia's natural grandeur is a "roadie" to the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

If you can handle driving on the left -- really it is not hard -- head south from Sydney. The roads are excellent and very well sign-posted.

The Great Ocean Road embraces the contours of Victoria's rugged southwest coast and has to rate as one of the country's most spectacular coastal drives. The 257-km road was built in the 1930s as a memorial to Australia's First World War servicemen. This endlessly fascinating region stretches west from the regional city of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula to the South Australian border. Within these parameters one is treated to a virtual smorgasbord of ocean views.

From Torquay to Nelson, almost 300 km to the west, the road snakes past cliffs, scenic lookouts, waterfalls, rainforests and sunken ships.

It also offers an array of bushwalking, swimming, surfing, fishing and whale-watching opportunities.

Perhaps the most visited portion of the road is Port Campbell National Park, home to significant areas of native bushland and fauna. The sea and land are one here and towns such as Port Fairy and Portland offer fishing wharves, old pubs and preserved colonial buildings.

Marine history buffs can fill their boots with knowledge from the many museums in the region. It is easy to comprehend why the surfing set regard it as the Mecca of the widely popular sport. Torquay is acclaimed as Oz's surfing capital and Easter sees Bells Beach playing host to a world professional-tour event that brings in the best boarders in the world.

But the sight all want to see are the Twelve Apostles, amazing natural limestone finger, or stack, formations that rise from the sea and are known as the jewels of the road. Unfortunately, there are no longer 12 apostles, as they keeping falling to the ravages of the sea that batters their roots.

Who knows how long they will continue to stand? Another one collapsed in 2005 to leave just eight standing.

The irony is that they were originally formed by erosion and came with the less dignified name of the Sow and Piglets. They were given their biblical status in the 1950s to bring in the tourists. Mission accomplished on that score.

So what about the outback, the "Alice," as in Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Western Australia, the far north, Queensland, the Gold Coast?

Almost Done!

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I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.